Brussels, July 29 (Reuters) — Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) is set to receive unconditional antitrust approval from the European Union for its $14 billion acquisition of Juniper Networks, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Announced in January, the deal highlights the accelerating pace of mergers and acquisitions in response to the surge in artificial intelligence-driven services. The European Commission, tasked with evaluating the merger, is expected to issue its decision by August 1. The Commission has declined to comment on the ongoing review.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Juniper Networks did not immediately respond to requests for comment, while Hewlett Packard declined to provide a statement.

To address potential competition concerns, HPE is likely to emphasize the competitive landscape dominated by market leader Cisco, which rivals Juniper Networks, sources said. This strategy aims to mitigate any European Union reservations about the deal’s impact on market competition.

In addition to the EU review, the acquisition is also under scrutiny by the UK’s antitrust authorities, with a decision anticipated by August 14.

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Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Mark Potter and Emelia Sithole-Matarise